Los Angeles: On November 25, 2001, at approximately 1:10 am., a shooting occurred at the corner of La Brea Avenue and St. Elmo Street.

The intended victims in that shooting fled. However, one of the bullets fired by the suspect pierced the exterior wall of the apartment at 1700 S. La Brea Avenue. The bullet struck twelve-year-old Harry G. Hines, who was sleeping inside the apartment.

The responding Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics transported the victim to Cedars Sinai Hospital where he died as the result of his injury.

Whilshire Area Detectives Daryn Dupree and Francis Bolan responded to the scene of the shooting and assumed responsibility of the investigation. Evidence obtained early in the investigation, later resulted in the identification of the suspect.

On December 27, 2001, armed with an arrest warrant, detectives arrested 27 year-old Ricardo Ernesto Mejia, a resident of Los Angeles. Suspect Mejia was booked for the murder of Harry Hines.

On December 28, 2001, Los Angeles District Attorney A. Ingalls filed Murder, Criminal Gang Activity, Use of a Firearm, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon charges against Ricardo E. Mejia.

Family members of the young victim, along with the investigating detectives, and a photo of the suspect will be available at the press conference.